From: stmx3@NOSPAM.netscape.net   
      
   Doug Haxton wrote:   
   > stmx3  wrote in message news:<3F68A   
   2D.6040806@NOSPAM.netscape.net>...   
   >   
   >>>Waitaminute...the pressure of the Martian atmosphere is only about 1%   
   >>>that of Earth's at sea level, right?   
   >>>   
   >>>Wouldn't any surface water just boil away?   
   >>>   
   >>>Doug   
   >>>   
   >>   
   >>Not necessarily...especially if the water is cold. At 70 deg F, you can   
   >>lower pressure slowly down to about 10 Torr before vigorous boiling   
   >>occurs.  If you keep lowering below 4.5 Torr, suddenly you'll get a   
   >>rapid phase transition to ice because you're at the Triple Point of   
   >>water.  So, if water is colder, you should be able to lower pressure   
   >>even further before you get boiling.   
   >   
   >   
   > How much is 10 Torr in terms inches of mercury?   
   >   
   > Doug   
      
   1 Torr = 1 mmHg = 1/25.4 inHg.   
   So, 10 Torr ~ 0.4 inHg.   
      
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